’)
Probably Cuomo’s seat to lose now, especially with how botched its been.
Caroline Kennedy has told Gov. David Paterson that she is withdrawing her name from consideration to replace outgoing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate, The Post has learned.
Kennedy cited “personal reasons,” according to sources.
Her stunning move comes as sources revealed that Paterson had intended to appoint her to the now-vacant seat today.
>> Kennedy Is Said to Withdraw Senate Bid
>> Video: Kennedy Talks Senate Seat with AP
>> Video: Caroline Kennedy Endorses Barack Obama
>> Video: Caroline Kennedy, You Know You Know
Huzzah! So much for the coronation!
Yeah, I wasn’t too thrilled about Kennedy.
I wonder if “personal reasons” would have to do with Ted Kennedy’s health? Who knows.
I doubt it, Jaim. If anything, that would have been a motivating factor — keep the family legacy going.
No, I think enough people told her it wasn’t gonna happen, and she decided to keep a little dignity.
J.
I doubt it, Jaim. If anything, that would have been a motivating factor — keep the family legacy going.
“…Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after suffering a seizure during President Obama’s inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with her uncle’s condition was her most important priority, a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.”
…rather than open it and remove all doubt, yadda yadda yadda.
It’s called “spin,” August. Look it up sometime.
J.
Jay, you are fearless when it comes to being absolutely fucking wrong about everything. Every. Thing.
“…she decided to keep a little dignity.”
About what?
My guess is that she’s got a Senate seat in Massachusetts as soon as Ted decides to retire. A bit callous an assessment, I admit, but I can’t see why she’d pull out without that being part of the arithmatic. It’s personal reasons, all right, but a diminished sense of desire for a Senate seat probably wasn’t part of the equation.
She’s got some ambition, some smarts, some legacy, and wouldn’t have much trouble raising money. She realizes that the bad press of the moment is ridiculous considering she’d be replacing a Senator who was pretty much a carpetbagger who moved in and won on her name recognition (and won big.) Timing is key, but the timing probably looks better next door in Massachusetts.
I’m not sure Barney Frank would make a great Senator, though it would be fun to watch various heads explode.
There are problems with the Massachusetts theory. First up, Governor Patrick is NOT a long-term Kennedy ally/crony, and can not be counted on to kowtow to the Kennedys. Next, Caroline is a longtime established New Yorker, and while it would be ironic for her to pull a “reverse Bobby Kennedy” and suddenly discover her Massachusetts roots, there has been too much of that sort of thing (Hillary Clinton and Alan Keyes, to name two “carpetbaggers”) for Patrick to stick his neck out.
I dismiss the “Ted’s health” theory because I can read a calendar. Ted’s illness was announced last May and it was largely considered a death sentence. He had surgery in June, only attended one night of the Democratic convention, and was hospitalized for a seizure in September. Caroline announced her interest in the seat on December 15.
Ted’s health was front and center for most of last year, including a rush to the hospital in September. If it was a factor in Caroline’s decision to seek the seat, then it was most likely a “join the family business” force, keeping a Kennedy in the Senate, than a “free up time to spend with him” one.
No, the biggest change in the whole situation was Caroline’s chances of getting the seat. Her disastrous interviews and sheer unfitness for the job were outweighing her assets — which mainly consisted of her name and her ties to Obama. Ted’s seizure on Tuesday was a convenient excuse for a face-saving withdrawal from what had become a humiliating ordeal.
To take Caroline at her word is to assume that she wasn’t fully aware of Ted’s health issues — which were front-page news for almost a year — until his second seizure, on last Tuesday. That she was not kept in the loop to the travails of her uncle, the patriarch of the family, from the announcement of his illness, his surgery, his appearance at the convention where she played a major role, or his prior seizure that resulted in him being rushed to the hospital. I’m not buying that.
Yeah, it could be possible that the fix is in, to give her Ted’s seat instead. But that would piss off a LOT of Massachusetts Democrats — for decades, Kennedy and Kerry have camped in the Senate, blocking other Democrats from being able to rise through the ranks. There are a LOT of Democrats in Massachusetts who think that they are entitled to at least a chance to be in the Senate, and Patrick will be under tremendous pressure to give the seat to someone who’s paid their dues in the Bay State — not hand it over to a carpetbagger who will, in all likelihood, tie up the seat for a couple more decades.
Patrick is NOT popular, is up for re-election next year, and could really, really use some allies in the race. The vaunted Kennedy machine has lost much of its power; it can get Kennedys elected, but that’s about it. Appointing Caroline would not help him much, and would in all likelihood piss off those who think they deserve the seat — and will not offer much support for Patrick’s re-election.
I could very easily be wrong. The fix could be in for her to take Ted’s seat. But I think my reasoning — based on established facts — is not only plausible, but quite probable.
J.
Jay writes “I could very easily be wrong.”
Yes, I could, Jaim. But I don’t think I am.
Let’s hear your laughable “thoughts” on an alternative scenario, with supporting evidence. I could use the snorts.
J.
[...] so The Princess decided she did not need or want another tiara, right after the people decided they did not want her to wear the [...]
My guess is that she’s got a Senate seat in Massachusetts as soon as Ted decides to retire.
No she doesn’t. I don’t know much about the constitutionality of legacy seats, but I would assume the Senate seat would go to son Patrick, not niece Caroline.
Oh, and Keith O reported that she has NOT withdrawn her name.
Plus the fact that Patrick works for me in RI.
If a Kennedy gets Ted’s seat, I’m fucking moving. I’ll go to some country where at least they’re honest about their bullshit patronage.
Guys, let me tell you how this went down.
Andrew Cuomo put a call into the Gov. that went like this:
AC – Hi gov! Listen, I’ve been doing some thinking. If Caroline gets the Senate seat, you’re going to have to deal with me at your reelection. Caroline isn’t a threat to you. I am. If you appoint me, I’m doing the DC boogie and I’m outta here. Watta ya say?
Gov – Let me get this right. I don’t have to see your sorry ass again if I send you to DC?
AC – You got it.
CLICK.
Gov – Eh Mary, get Caroline on the phone for me.
I dismiss the “Ted’s health” theory because I can read a calendar.
Wow, he’s a blogger with Bill Frist diagnostic skills. Now thats MENSA material.
I don’t have to see your sorry ass again if I send you to DC?
He’d never see Cuomo anyway, what with him being blind and all.
/rimshot
Joaquin, that sounds plausible. Add in that Cuomo’s ex-wife was a Kennedy who cheated on him, and it gets even more delicious…
J.
He’d never see Cuomo anyway, what with him being blind and all.
/rimshot
Okay, that was funny.